# winder

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈwaɪndɚ/ · frequency rank #45,173

## Definitions
1. A winding plant.
2. An engine that raises and lowers the cages in a mine.
3. The person who operates such an engine.
4. A textile worker, or machine, that winds cloth.
5. A spool around which something is wound.
6. A key or knob for winding a clock, watch or clockwork mechanism
7. One of the steps of a spiral staircase (as opposed to a flyer, or straight step).

## Etymology
From Middle English wynder; equivalent to wind + -er.

## Easily confused with
- **wine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-wine)
- **winds** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-winds)
- **wines** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-wines)
- **windy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-windy)
- **wiser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-wiser)
- **wiper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-wiper)
- **wonder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-wonder)
- **winter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-winter)
- **window** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-window)
- **winner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-winner)
- **winger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-winger)
- **winged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-winged)
- **winery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-winery)
- **wither** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-wither)
- **winked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-winked)
- **wonders** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-wonders)
- **Windsor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-windsor)
- **winters** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-winters)
- **winkler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winder-vs-winkler)
- **wide** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wide-vs-winder)

## Common misspellings (9)
`iwnder`, `widner`, `windder`, `winderr`, `windre`, `winedr`, `winnder`, `wnider`, `wwinder`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/winder